| Shall I tell a tale of love and of jealousy
|
| And of how a mortal found her own destiny
|
| Born a maiden of luminous beauty
|
| And revealed she was a flower so heavenly
|
| But by this admiration I’m doomed you see
|
| The smite of a goddess upon me
|
| Now I’m sent to wed one of dragon-breed
|
| Oh dear Venus I meant no impiety
|
| And so the girl was left alone on a mountaintop
|
| Until with gentle breath Zephyr she to a palace brought
|
| For the fates have dained not Venus’s wishes wrought
|
| But instead that those famed arrows would share her heart
|
| We had happiness there but in secrecy
|
| In darkness we loved without need to see
|
| But convinced to unveil his identity
|
| Great winds, betrayed, flew fast away from me
|
| And so she wondered on the land searching far and wide
|
| While he lay sequestered by his indignant mother’s side
|
| She prepared to face the implications of her desire
|
| Approached the gates where Habit seized her and made her cry
|
| Oh trouble and sorrow please leave me be
|
| Has your mistress no heart to bid me clemency
|
| I love her most sweetly and fervently
|
| 'Tis only of this I am guilty
|
| Then the goddess drug her to a disordered heap of seeds
|
| Commanding before night the sorting task must be complete
|
| The mess of lentils, corn and barley and poppy seeds
|
| Did loom impossible to weary and worn Psyche
|
| I stand overwhelmed with humility
|
| But hark underfoot, earthborn you pity me
|
| Oh nimble nurselings rush to my need
|
| Dear brothers and sisters of humanity
|
| Took each grain by grain
|
| Made piles of the same
|
| The light of nature came to me
|
| Oh Myrmidons oh gentle beasts
|
| I asked you not, still you saved me
|
| Such diligence grant me this lesson teach
|
| Now consciousness have I to keep
|
| But not enough this single victory
|
| Bid she was impossibilities
|
| To collect the golden fleece
|
| The waters from the cruellest peak
|
| And the beauty of Persephone
|
| These three more tasks completed she
|
| Afraid she was but never weak
|
| Then when cast in Stygian sleep
|
| Love flew and roused her from the deep
|
| Oh counsel above, oh Jupiter
|
| You welcome me into your theatre
|
| With this golden goblet of ambrosia
|
| I’ll cherish the lessons I’ve learned from the
|
| Tower and greenery
|
| And the royal bird’s great beak
|
| The ants who rescued me
|
| Yes it takes strength to receive |